An overview of the anti-SARS-CoV-2 properties of Artemisia annua, its antiviral action, protein-associated mechanisms, and repurposing for COVID-19 treatment.
10.1016/j.joim.2021.07.003
- Author:
Andréa D FUZIMOTO
1
Author Information
1. Holistic Sync-Holistic Integrative Medicine, USA/Brazil. Electronic address: anfuzimoto@fivebranches.edu.
- Publication Type:Review
- Keywords:
Artemisia annua;
Artemisinin;
COVID-19;
Main protease;
SARS-CoV-2;
Spike protein
- MeSH:
Antiviral Agents/pharmacology*;
Artemisia annua;
COVID-19/drug therapy*;
Drug Repositioning;
Humans;
Molecular Docking Simulation;
SARS-CoV-2
- From:
Journal of Integrative Medicine
2021;19(5):375-388
- CountryChina
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Artemisia annua and its phytocompounds have a rich history in the research and treatment of malaria, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and other diseases. Currently, the World Health Organization recommends artemisinin-based combination therapy as the first-line treatment for multi-drug-resistant malaria. Due to the various research articles on the use of antimalarial drugs to treat coronaviruses, a question is raised: would A. annua and its compounds provide anti-severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) properties? PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, and Google Scholar were searched for peer-reviewed articles that investigated the antiviral effects and mechanisms of A. annua and its phytochemicals against SARS-CoVs. Particularly, articles that evidenced the herb's role in inhibiting the coronavirus-host proteins were favored. Nineteen studies were retrieved. From these, fourteen in silico molecular docking studies demonstrated potential inhibitory properties of artemisinins against coronavirus-host proteins including 3CL
